Northwest Building Auditorium, Trinity Western University in Langley, BC

Wednesday, October 8 @ 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Hayhoe has been identified by TIME as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2014.

Abstract

Climate change is one of the most hotly debated scientific issues of today. But, is the evidence solid? Are proposed solutions viable? And why would anyone care? Join Katharine Hayhoe as she untangles the complex science behind global warming and highlights the key role our faith and values play in shaping our attitudes and actions on this crucial topic.

Commentary on the Lecture:

Katharine Hayhoe had an important message (mixed in with good humour) last evening at TWU. We have found the problem in global warming and the problem is us, especially high consumers using lots of carbon-based energy since the industrial revolution. 97% of climate scientists believe that there is a significant human factor/human causes to global warming. For her, the science speaks loud and clear. Climate instability is rapidly becoming one of our biggest global problems. She gave several examples from Canada, USA and elsewhere: unusual killer heat waves, flash floods in Toronto and Calgary, the pine beetle menace to our forests, island communities being swallowed by the sea, extremely fast melting of sea ice and glaciers, the immense threat to the livelihood of millions in Bangladesh, etc.She ended with the moral/values/faith Question: What are we going to do about it? Do we really love our neighbour who is suffering the worst impact of climate change? Do we care about the future of our children? She left us with a sense of urgency–the need to act now, especially in the next few years. We all need to take responsibility for our part in the problem and all need to work towards solutions. The same message came through Jeremy Rifkin in a Google talk www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-iDUcETjvo He notes that climate change, water and food shortage could highjack the whole future of the planet. This is a serious concern for future leaders and educators the 10,000 graduate students at UBC. Also graduate students around the globe.

Biography for Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D

Recently named to TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World list for 2014, Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist who studies climate change and what it means for people and the natural environment. But Hayhoe may be best-known to many people because of how she’s bridging the broad, deep, gap between scientists and Christians— work she does in part because she’s a Christian herself. Together with her husband Andrew Farley, a pastor, professor of applied linguistics, and best-selling author, Hayhoe wrote “A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions,” a book that untangles the complex science and tackles many long-held misconceptions about global warming. Her work as a climate change evangelist is featured on the documentary series “Years of Living Dangerously” and “The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers.” In 2012 she was honored to be named one of Christianity Today’s 50 Women to Watch.

Katharine Anne Scott Hayhoe (born 1973) is an atmospheric scientist and associate professor of political science at Texas Tech University, where she is director of the Climate Science Center. She has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, with an h-index of 28, and wrote the book A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisionstogether with her husband, Andrew Farley, a pastor. She also co-authored some reports for the US Global Change Research Program, as well as some National Academy of Sciences reports,including the 3rd National Climate Assessment, released on May 6, 2014. Shortly after the report was released, Hayhoe said, "Climate change is here and now, and not in some distant time or place," adding that "The choices we're making today will have a significant impact on our future."

Professor John Abraham has called her "perhaps the best communicator on climate change." Time Magazine listed her among the 100 most influential people in 2014. The first episode of the documentary TV series Years of Living Dangerously features her work and her communication with religious audiences in Texas.